the US Pro Indoors at Philadelphia´s Spectrum was one of the biggest events of the year in the 70´s and 80´s, the greatest WCT regular tournament and the unofficial indoor world championships.

Well, Connors lost to Stockton ( 77) and Mac ( 82 ) in two finals..but won a record of 4 titles, beating the best of the best: Bjorn Borg, whom he humilliated in 76, same he did to Tanner in 78 and Ashe in 79.His only hard final came in that classic match that he won against JMac in the 1980 tourney.

Connors record on hard, grass and har tru makes it sometimes not that evident how sharp, dangerous and powerful he was indoors.Such as his Philadelphia´s results indicate.

How could he do it? What made the difference? WHAT KEPT HIM GOING?

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Whenever I walk in a London street, I am always so careful where I put my feet

I liked Philadelphia a lot. An excellent and very well run tournament by the Fernbergers.

Connors's record at the Spectrum from 1976-1980 was outstanding, winning 26 matches out of 27:
1976 - Champions, destroying Borg in the final (he also beat Stan Smith and Laver at that event)
1977 - Runner-Up, losing to Stockton in 5 sets in the final
1978 - Champion, destroying Tanner in the final
1979 - Champion, beating Tanner in the semis and Ashe in the final
1980 - Champion, beating Mac in a 5 set final

In 1980, he was struggling with a groin injury, and nearly pulled out of his semi-final against Mayer, but battled on. Mac had beaten him in their last 2 big matches at Dallas and the US Open in 1979, so Connors was very happy to beat him in the final and put his younger American challenger in his place (for a brief period anyway). That was a very entertaining 5 set match.

Of course Mac took over Connor's mantle as the king of the spectrum, destroying him in the 1982 final and winning 4 titles in a row there from 1982-1985.

The 1976 tournament during the Bicentennial year was enjoyable. A lot of people who had previously hated Connors and his behavior really warmed to him that week, with him being very friendly and engaging a lot with the fans, other players and media.

He showered Laver with praise after their QF, and in the final he was a double break behind in the first set before winning it on a tiebreaker and steamrollering Borg in the next 2 sets. That was actually considered by some members of the media to be his first important victory in a while, which shows how highly regarded the tournament was. After losing in those 3 major finals in 1975, plus in the deciding rubber against Ramirez in the Davis Cup in Mexico, people had questioned his ability in big matches. But after his 1976 title, the headline was 'the kid is back'.

I liked Philadelphia a lot. An excellent and very well run tournament by the Fernbergers.

Connors's record at the Spectrum from 1976-1980 was outstanding, winning 26 matches out of 27:
1976 - Champions, destroying Borg in the final (he also beat Stan Smith and Laver at that event)
1977 - Runner-Up, losing to Stockton in 5 sets in the final
1978 - Champion, destroying Tanner in the final
1979 - Champion, beating Tanner in the semis and Ashe in the final
1980 - Champion, beating Mac in a 5 set final

In 1980, he was struggling with a groin injury, and nearly pulled out of his semi-final against Mayer, but battled on. Mac had beaten him in their last 2 big matches at Dallas and the US Open in 1979, so Connors was very happy to beat him in the final and put his younger American challenger in his place (for a brief period anyway). That was a very entertaining 5 set match.

Of course Mac took over Connor's mantle as the king of the spectrum, destroying him in the 1982 final and winning 4 titles in a row there from 1982-1985.

The 1976 tournament during the Bicentennial year was enjoyable. A lot of people who had previously hated Connors and his behavior really warmed to him that week, with him being very friendly and engaging a lot with the fans, other players and media.

He showered Laver with praise after their QF, and in the final he was a double break behind in the first set before winning it on a tiebreaker and steamrollering Borg in the next 2 sets. That was actually considered by some members of the media to be his first important victory in a while, which shows how highly regarded the tournament was. After losing in those 3 major finals in 1975, plus in the deciding rubber against Ramirez in the Davis Cup in Mexico, people had questioned his ability in big matches. But after his 1976 title, the headline was 'the kid is back'.

Yes, Mac beat Lendl in a great 1983 final too.

Memphis was also big then, the second indoor event in importance held in the US

Mecir made a name for himself at the 85 Phily event by beating Connors and losing to Mc Enroe in the final.

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Whenever I walk in a London street, I am always so careful where I put my feet

The Spectrum tournament was run by Ed and Marylin Fernberger and was seen as the exemplary tour event of the early open era. It was known for its great crowds, up to 70000 and more people over the week, and it was played on two courts side by side (the old Forest Hills stadium had similar two courts). The 1970 event saw the official beginning of the sudden death tiebreaker in pro tennis, at 6-6 and in the tie breaker at 4-4.
Laver won the Philadelphia title 4 times, 1969 over Roche, 1970 over Roche, 1972 over Rosewall and 1974 over Ashe, losing the final in 1971 against Newcombe. He had won the US pro indoor title also in 1965 and 1967, both times over Gonzalez, when it was played at Old Armoury Arena in New York.

I always felt that indoors on carpet was an ideal to showcase the Connors game. It rewarded his flat aggressive strokes, his return and focused the crowd involvement that stoked his fire. Frankly i was surprised he did not continue with success later in the 80's, but he was usurped by both Mac and Lendl, two absolute greats on carpet.

Was it 78 or 79 that Connors defeated Tanner, even though Roscoe racked up like 35 aces during the match?

Connors beat Tanner in 78 (Tanner had knocked out Borg in his quarterfinal) very easily.In 79, Connors needed 4 sets to beat Tanner in their semifinal, after Roscoe beat Mac at the quarters.

Tanner is, after Connors and Mac, the best player at the US Pro indoors, at least, since 1975.He played the 78 final, the 79 semi and finaly, won the title in 1981, after beating Fibak in the final (Fibak scored his only win against Connors in the former rounds)

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Whenever I walk in a London street, I am always so careful where I put my feet

The side by side courts is what I remember about that tournament. Back then, you never actually saw it because it was for the earlier rounds and they were never televised. Not where I lived, anyway. Still, they would talk about it in the press coverage, and it was just so unusual. Matches going on at the same time separated by only a few feet.

If Tanner had 35 aces it would have had to have been the 79 match. I saw the 78 match and it sure didn't happen there. Not enough games. I don't remember reading it about the 79 match either, but it's been a long time. Maybe he did.

The side by side courts is what I remember about that tournament. Back then, you never actually saw it because it was for the earlier rounds and they were never televised. Not where I lived, anyway. Still, they would talk about it in the press coverage, and it was just so unusual. Matches going on at the same time separated by only a few feet.

If Tanner had 35 aces it would have had to have been the 79 match. I saw the 78 match and it sure didn't happen there. Not enough games. I don't remember reading it about the 79 match either, but it's been a long time. Maybe he did.

I don´t know if they played before.But 35 aces looks like a five set match, so it should be in 79.

Tanner may have aced Connors as much in their 1980 Wimbledon quarterfinal.

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Whenever I walk in a London street, I am always so careful where I put my feet

WCT, there was a somewhat famous photo in Sports Illustrated or maybe it was World Tennis, I can' t remember now but it was a photo of Connors balancing his racquet by the end of the handle with one finger and the caption said something like, "the balanced hand that survived 35 aces and was still able to win". I can't find the photo but it was forever etched in my mind, because here you had the finest returner the game at probably ever seen at that time being aced that many times, it just tells you what Tanner's serve must have been like indoors.

WCT, there was a somewhat famous photo in Sports Illustrated or maybe it was World Tennis, I can' t remember now but it was a photo of Connors balancing his racquet by the end of the handle with one finger and the caption said something like, "the balanced hand that survived 35 aces and was still able to win". I can't find the photo but it was forever etched in my mind, because here you had the finest returner the game at probably ever seen at that time being aced that many times, it just tells you what Tanner's serve must have been like indoors.

To me, although he had arguably the best return, Connors was not the most difficult player to ace. He would guess sometimes. I've seen Connors aced on points where he was clearly moving in the opposite direction. Again, that doesn't mean he didn't still have the best overall return of serve.

Connors said that he loved the ‘carnival atmosphere’ at the Spectrum, and that it gave him an advantage over the other players in the field.

Numerous players complained of the distraction of the two main courts being side by side, but Jimbo loved it. He said that during his R3 match against Fibak in 1979, he kept turning his head to watch and enjoy the Gerulaitis-Kriek match on the other court. He diffused Tanner’s power in his semi that year and was too strong for a veteran Ashe in the final.

According to various articles at the time, the Ashe-Gerulaitis 5 set semi-final at that year’s event was supposed to have been a classic, with superb all-court tennis and cat and mouse tactics from both players, and a great comeback by Ashe from 2 sets to love down. However I don’t know if a copy of the match is available anywhere.

A few weeks after the Masters in January had concluded the previous year's season, for many of the top players Philly was their first big event to kick-start the new season.

Connors said that he loved the ‘carnival atmosphere’ at the Spectrum, and that it gave him an advantage over the other players in the field.

Numerous players complained of the distraction of the two main courts being side by side, but Jimbo loved it. He said that during his R3 match against Fibak in 1979, he kept turning his head to watch and enjoy the Gerulaitis-Kriek match on the other court. He diffused Tanner’s power in his semi that year and was too strong for a veteran Ashe in the final.

According to various articles at the time, the Ashe-Gerulaitis 5 set semi-final at that year’s event was supposed to have been a classic, with superb all-court tennis and cat and mouse tactics from both players, and a great comeback by Ashe from 2 sets to love down. However I don’t know if a copy of the match is available anywhere.

A few weeks after the Masters in January had concluded the previous year's season, for many of the top players Philly was their first big event to kick-start the new season.

That´s also my recolection of this tournament.The Ashe-Gerulaitis match was one of the best indoor matches of the season.Ashe did have a great first half, reaching three consecutive big finals at New York Masters, where he held a mp against eventual winner Mc Enroe, then Philadelphia ( and probably he ended too tired of his semi and was pretty flat in the final, he was aged 36¡¡) and Memphis, where he beat Tanner in the semis and lost in three sets to Connors.He took the second set from Jimmy, that shows he was much more fresh than in the case of Philadelphia, when Connors had smoked him in straights.The Phily and Memphis semis line up had the very same 4 players.

He lost to the younger legs of Lendl at RG, then lost to RG finalist Victor Pecci,at the Queen´s club semis and was surprised at Wimbledon by the unknown aussie Chris Kachel ( whom I never heard of again).I think he played his last tournament in Gstaad, a few weeks after Wimbledon.That is when he had his first heart troubles; the rest is history.

Coming into Philadelphia, there had been a former WCT event held at Birmingham, Alabama.Connors defeated Gerulaitis in three close sets in the semis and beat Dibbs in the final, also in the long distance.Dibbs had beaten Vilas in the other semifinal.

The 1979 WCT tour was exhilarating.

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Whenever I walk in a London street, I am always so careful where I put my feet

That´s also my recolection of this tournament.The Ashe-Gerulaitis match was one of the best indoor matches of the season.Ashe did have a great first half, reaching three consecutive big finals at New York Masters, where he held a mp against eventual winner Mc Enroe, then Philadelphia ( and probably he ended too tired of his semi and was pretty flat in the final, he was aged 36¡¡) and Memphis, where he beat Tanner in the semis and lost in three sets to Connors.He took the second set from Jimmy, that shows he was much more fresh than in the case of Philadelphia, when Connors had smoked him in straights.The Phily and Memphis semis line up had the very same 4 players.

He lost to the younger legs of Lendl at RG, then lost to RG finalist Victor Pecci,at the Queen´s club semis and was surprised at Wimbledon by the unknown aussie Chris Kachel ( whom I never heard of again).I think he played his last tournament in Gstaad, a few weeks after Wimbledon.That is when he had his first heart troubles; the rest is history.

Coming into Philadelphia, there had been a former WCT event held at Birmingham, Alabama.Connors defeated Gerulaitis in three close sets in the semis and beat Dibbs in the final, also in the long distance.Dibbs had beaten Vilas in the other semifinal.

The 1979 WCT tour was exhilarating.

Birmingham was another tourney where Connors had great success. I think he won it 3, maybe 4 times. Also, hwon Memphis at least 5 times, maybe 6.

Dibbs beat Pecci at the WCT Invitational hosted by Forest Hills and Borg beat Connors at the WCT Challenge of Champions played in Montreal.Those two events were non official.

The WCT Doubles Finals was considered to be the greatest doubles team event in the year, and all the big teams took part.it was played at London´s Albert Hall; in 1979 Fleming and Mc Enroe took the title ( I think the runner ups were Gottfried and Ramirez or Fibak and Okker, not sure right now)

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Whenever I walk in a London street, I am always so careful where I put my feet